Mr. Walter Martin Craft

Funeral services for Mr. Walter M. Craft of Gary will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 31, 2025 in the Hawthorn Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dale Walker and the Gary Masonic Lodge officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Gary Cemetery under the direction of Hawthorn Funeral Home. Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 6 – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Walter Martin Craft, 90 years old, passed away peacefully at his home in Gary, Texas, on July 24th, 2025. He was born on June 7th, 1935, in Manchester, KY, to the late John Henderson Craft and Mattie Lewis Craft. He was the tender age of 16 when he joined the Air Force so he could go defend his country. He met the love of his life, Helen Whiddon, in 1952 on a blind date. They were married two weeks later, on December 13, 1952, and celebrated almost 72 years of marriage before she passed away on July 26th, 2024. They were stationed in Houston, Texas; Sacramento, California; Bryan, Texas; Sculthorpe, England; Smyrna, Tennessee; Lakenheath, England; and Orlando, Florida. He served his country for 20 years, 4 months, and 14 days. He was a member of Eastside Baptist Church and served as the sound coordinator and helped cook Brotherhood breakfast for many years. He was a member of the Gary, Carthage, Timpson, Tenaha and Beckville Masonic lodges and had 67+ years in service. He was also a member of the Eastern Star and Shriners Hospital. He was Justice of the Peace for precinct 1 and Mayor of Gary. He was also president of the Gary Water Board from 1973-2018. He was hardworking and loyal...the BEST husband, daddy, grandfather, great and great-great grandfather, brother and friend you could ever have.
Mr. Craft is survived by his son, Marty Craft and wife Marla; daughters, Yvonne Murray and Gerald, Phyllis Ritter and Michael, and Angelia Odom. Grandchildren Holly Baker and Phillip, Claire Craft Hiatt and Jake, Matt Ritter and Cayla, Caroline Craft Brandon and Eric, Chelsea Ritter Murphy and Matt, Brittany Odom, Landon Odom, Aaron Murray, Brooke Murray Smyre and Johnathan. Great-grandchildren Colby Baker and Haley, Hailey Baker Tanner and Dalton, Trinity Baker. Zoë and Sloane Hiatt, Parker Ritter, Cecilia and Lewis Brandon, Gatlin and Griffin Murphy, Taylor Starr Murray, Tanner, Tatum, and Tillie Smyre. Great-great-grandchildren Azalea, Sawyer, Sybil Tanner, and Olivia Baker later this year. Precious sisters Ann Craft Bowling and Billy, and Sharon Craft Loomis and DJ; Sister in laws, Elsie Craft, Linda Vickery, Brenda Sears and Robert, and Yvonne Whiddon.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Callie Sibert, Marietta Wilson, Louise James, Lorraine Craft; brothers, Cecil Craft, Tom Craft, Johnny Craft; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Whiddon, Royce (Man) Whiddon; sisters-in-law, Doris Swanzy, Retha Whiddon; brothers-in-law, Sonny Swanzy and David Vickery, Roy Sibert, Bruce James, Junior Wilson; great-great-grandson, Ryder Tanner, and great-granddaughter, Gentry Murphy; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
We would like to give a special thank you to Gail Matlock with Caring Hearts Caregivers and the Hospices CNA 's Tiwanek and Tantra Davis for the care they provided our Dad.
Memorials in his name can be made to Shriners Children's Hospital or Eastside Baptist Church
1996 FM 999 Gary, TX